Johor exco: Time to go after illegal immigrants running businesses

JOHOR BARU: The nationwide operation against illegal workers should target illegal immigrants who are running their own businesses here, says a state exco member.

The businesses included stalls belonging to local councils, wholesale markets and sundry shops, says Johor Consumerism, Human Resource and Unity Committee chairman Dr S. Ramakrishnan.

Other than businesses, he said the Immigration Department should also go after middlemen and unscrupulous employment agents who bring in illegal workers via the country’s airports.

“I am sure the agencies under the Home Ministry know who the ‘big fish’ involved in exploiting and bringing workers here are.

“This is a multibillionringgit industry. All the people involved should be arrested and charged in court,” he said during an interview here.

Dr Ramakrishnan was commenting on the ongoing Immigration Department blitz on illegal workers.

He claimed that there were many loopholes in the system which were being abused.

“For example, some foreigners tried to get married to Malaysians so that they can obtain business licences.

“There are also cases where locals who were awarded job contracts and then subcontracted their licences or contracts to foreigners,” he said, adding that these Malaysians should be blacklisted by the authorities.

Due to these issues, Dr Ramakrishnan said the government should get employers to hire workers directly instead of using agents.

“The previous government should also be blamed for flipflop policies on foreign workers,” he added.

During a special briefing for about 250 Indian business owners here yesterday, he said removing illegal workers without having a proper longterm solution would hurt many industries.

“Many companies preferred hiring illegals than a legal foreign worker due to cost factors, especially paying the annual levies.

“What happens when the worker runs off after a few months? This results in the companies suffering losses.

“We should emulate Singapore which allows levies to be paid on a monthly basis,” he said.

The event was organised by Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) together with Johor Indian Business Association.